Running back Elijah Hood rushed for two touchdowns and North Carolina recovered from a frustrating season-opening loss by drubbing visiting North Carolina A&T 53-14 on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Quarterback Marquise Williams threw two touchdown passes and ran for another.

Tight end Brandon Fritts made a pair of touchdown catches on short passes for different quarterbacks.

It was a good bounce-back performance for the Tar Heels (1-1), who squandered scoring chances in a 17-13 opening-night loss to South Carolina when Williams threw three interceptions.

This time, Williams completed 15 of 20 passes for 211 yards without an interception. He also gained 53 yards on four carries.

Hood scored on a pair of 1-yard runs in the first quarter, sandwiched around Kendrick Singleton's 47-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Williams.

Backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Fritts midway through the second quarter. Fritts, a redshirt freshman, and Trubisky were high school teammates in Mentor, Ohio.

Before halftime, Williams connected with Fritts on a 1-yard touchdown play on the way to the Tar Heels building a 36-0 lead.

In the third quarter, Williams ran for an 18-yard score and Trubisky ran in from 35 yards out.

N.C. A&T (1-1) avoided a shutout when quarterback Kwashaun Quick scored on a 1-yard run with 1:09 left in the third quarter.

It was the first football meeting between the schools. The Aggies are coached by Rod Broadway, a former North Carolina player and assistant coach.